Call-out for rural citizens to join Multicultural Advisory Board

STATE MEMBER for Lismore Janelle Saffin is calling for NSW citizens and youth living in regional, rural and remote locations to put their hands up for seats on the Multicultural NSW Advisory Board as a matter of urgency.

Nominations close this week on Thursday 1 June, with the Board seeking one youth member and several other positions. The positions are part-time with three-year terms and will see members drawing on their community connections, cross-cultural understanding and lived experience to elevate the voices of the wider multicultural community.

“Many communities across regional, rural and remote NSW are as diverse as anywhere else in the State and I encourage citizens and youth living in these areas – such as my Lismore electorate – to nominate for the Board positions that have become available,” Ms Saffin said.

“Multicultural NSW promotes community harmony and social cohesion in one of the most culturally diverse states in the world, and it is important that residents living outside our cities have the opportunity to provide advice to the NSW Government as part of the Board.”

In announcing the opening of nominations, NSW Minister for Multiculturalism, the Hon. Steve Kamper, said the latest Census “shows us that one in two residents has a parent born overseas and one in four residents speak a language other than English at home”.

“I’m committed to ensuring that those diverse voices are heard within and across Government,” Minister Kamper said.

Multicultural NSW Advisory Board Chair Nick Kaldas, APM, added that “the Advisory Board has an important role to play as a conduit between community, Multicultural NSW and the NSW Government”.

“As Advisory Board Chair I’ve had the privilege to work alongside and learn from some of the most passionate members of our great state,” Mr Kaldas said.
“I urge anyone who is committed to ensuring the diverse voices of our community are heard, to apply to join me and the other members to continue this important work.”

The Advisory Board is constituted under the Multicultural NSW Act 2000 and consists of not more than 15 part-time members appointed by the Governor of NSW.
One of the part-time members is appointed as Chair of the Advisory Board and two are youth members, who are aged between 18 and 24 years at appointment.

For further information on how to apply, please visit: multicultural.nsw.gov.au/multicultural-nsw-advisory-board/